More than 400 school children to join choir for Accrington switch-on

Primary school children from across Hyndburn will team up to form a collective school choir of over 400 children at the #AmazingAccrington Christmas Light Switch On.

Ahead of the event on Thursday 23rd November, songs have been sent to each of the participating schools for the students to practice, including The Snowman Song, We Have Found Him and, The Holly and Mistletoe.

The collective school choir will be led by Helen Davies, Director of Music at St Christopher’s C.E. High School, and will perform from 4:15pm to 4:45pm.

Coun Marlene Haworth, leader of Hyndburn Borough Council and Coun Terry Hurn, mayor of Hyndburn, will officially introduce the choir, while each participating child will also receive a selection box following the performance.

#AmazingAccrington, organisers of the 2023 Accrington Christmas Light Switch On, have also visited one of the schools taking part ahead of the event, Hyndburn Park Primary School.

The #AmazingAccrington team enjoyed and filmed a sneak peek of the Hyndburn Park choir practising ‘The Snowman Song’, with students extremely excited for the big day.

Mrs Hardwick, headteacher at Hyndburn Park Primary School, said: “We can’t wait to be on the main stage as part of the collective school choir at the #AmazingAccrington Christmas Light Switch On.

“Having a choir is something which we are passionate about here at Hyndburn Park Primary School and this initiative has really helped push that forward. We are having so much fun learning all the different songs and we can’t wait to see hundreds of children singing together from lots of different primary schools.”

Victoria Tindall, business and marketing co-ordinator at Hyndburn Borough Council, said: “The #AmazingAccrington Christmas Light Switch On is one of our favourite events of the year and there is so much to do for all the family. The collective school choir is a great way to showcase how talented our young people are in the borough and we are looking forward to seeing them all enjoying themselves on the night.”

Murray Dawson, chair of #AmazingAccrington, commented: “We are thrilled to be hosting the collective school choir once again this year as part of our Christmas Light Switch On event. Seeing all the children coming together and singing is a wonderful spectacle at what is one of the biggest family and community events of 2023 here in Hyndburn. We are proud to be running this event in collaboration with Hyndburn Borough Council. Christmas starts here!”

The 2023 Accrington Christmas Light Switch On takes place on Thursday 23rd November from 4pm and will be sponsored by Hyndburn Borough Council, North Lancs Training Group, Sundown Solutions, Prosperity Children’s Services and Financial Affairs.

The event will launch a family friendly start to Christmas in Accrington including a main stage featuring Junior Andre and Emmerdale’s Paddy, interactive entertainment, a firework display, fairground rides, a Christmas Market inside and outside Accrington Market headlined by popular local duo Finch Bakery, plus much more!

Brand new for 2023, #AmazingAccrington are also inviting local school children to take part in a Blessing of the Crib, which will take place outside Accrington Market Hall and will see members from local churches and other local dignitaries get together for the festival celebration, which sees the blessing of Baby Jesus’ crib on the nativity scene.

For further updates on the Accrington Christmas Light Switch On, please visit: https://www.amazingaccrington.co.uk/